Helicopter services under RCS for J&K, NE, Andaman-Nicobar & Lakshadweep: Government.

New Delhi:-
Helicopter services under the regional connectivity scheme will be permitted only for Jammu and Kashmir, the north-eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar as well as Lakshwadeep islands, the government said today.

These areas have been identified as "high priority" and the government is likely to ease norms for bidding in order to improve air connectivity in these parts of the country.

The first round of bidding for selected routes under the RCS scheme was held in March and a total of 128 routes were awarded to five airline operators. The next round of bidding is likely to to be held later this month.

The scheme, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), aims at improving air connectivity for tier-2 and tier-3 cities as well making flying affordable for the masses by capping air fares at Rs 2,500 km for an hour-long flight in a fixed-wing aircraft and for a thi ..

"Operations under the scheme are permitted through fixed wing aircraft (including sea planes) and helicopters, provided that operations through the helicopters are permitted only among the states of Jammu and Kashmir, north eastern region, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshwadeep Islands," minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha said in response to a question in Rajya Sabha.

Airlines and helicopter operators are required to set aside 50 per cent of their seating capacity at discounted rates under the RCS, in exchange for which they are given a subsidy or a viability gap funding by the government.

Helicopters with a seating capacity of five are required to offer all seats at discounted rates, according to the rules finalised by the government.

However, in order to encourage operators to bid for these high priority areas the government is likely to revise a few parameters such as the lower limit of seats to be offered under the scheme, minimum distance between two airports as well as more frequencies.

Comments

Infra, skilled manpower needed to sustain aviation sector growth: Jayant Sinha

New Delhi:- India needs infrastructure and trained manpower to sustain the growth of its civil aviation sector, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha said on Tuesday. "Land for airports development" and skilled manpower are required to sustain the growth being witnessed by the sector, he said at an event here to launch skill development initiative for aircraft maintenance engineers (AMEs). The initiative comes after a report submitted to the Civil Aviation ministry highlighted that 72,900 technicians and AMEs will be required by the industry by 2035. However, aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation's data showed that only 3,644 basic licenses and only 159 type rated AME licenses were issued in the last five years. On an average, eight AMEs are required for maintenance of an aircraft. This figure assumes significance in the light mega aircraft orders that have been recently placed by domestic airlines.

Air India puts on hold leasing of 787-9 planes, says Boeing

New Delhi:- Air India has put on hold plans to lease Boeing 787-9 planes amid the government's decision to divest stake in the airline, a senior official from the US aircraft maker said today. Air India Boeing also said it would honour commitment to Air India , which is expected to take delivery of six more planes from the aircraft maker this fiscal. When asked about Air India's plans to induct 787-9 aircraft, Boeing Commercial Airplanes Senior Vice President ( Asia Pacific and India Sales) Dinesh Keskar said those are on hold now. Air India has put on "hold" plans to lease Boeing 787-9s because of government's plans to sell stake in the carrier, he said here. Earlier this year, the airline's board had given its nod to induct seven Boeing 787-9s. Boeing 787-9 planes can accommodate up to 290 passengers. About delivery of other Boeing planes to Air India, Keskar said those commitments would be honoured. Earlie

THE CHINESE AERONAUTS BUILD GYROCOPTERS FROM GAMING JOYSTICKS AND SPARE PARTS

IN HER DREAMS , Xiaoxiao Xu flies as birds do, riding the wind on outstretched arms, her body light and free. She shares this recurring fantasy with the self-taught aviation enthusiasts who fill her delightful book, Aeronautics in the Backyard . The eight men she photographed have little to no formal training in aeronautics. They are farmers, barbers, and carpenters with nothing more than a deep love of flight and a knack for cobbling together airplanes and gyrocopters. Most learned what they know from books and magazines, and happily pour time and money into contraptions that may not actually fly. And not one of them minds at all if people find them odd. "The thing I like the most about the aeronauts is that they dare to be different,” Xu says. “They don’t care about the risks, the chance of failure, or what other think about them. They have a free mind whether or not their planes succeed in lifting off.” These dedicated aeronauts—or nuts—hunt down parts in aircra

That Aviationist

Search This Blog